Press Office

Amgueddfa Cymru — National Museum Wales

Press Office

Press Releases

St Davids Award at National Museum Cardiff

Date:

2013-09-24

The First Minister, Carwyn Jones, has called for people from across Wales to recommend someone they feel deserves recognition for their outstanding achievements as nominations for the new Welsh awards system open today.

The St David Awards scheme is unique to Wales and recognises the achievements of people from all walks of life, regardless of their origin or background.

The Awards will be an annual feature of Welsh life celebrating those people who do exceptional things, inspiring others and making a real difference to the quality of life in Wales.

There are eight award categories for which anyone can be nominated:

Bravery

Citizenship

Culture

Enterprise

Innovation and Technology

Sport

International

Young Person

There is also a ninth award, the First Minister’s Special Award, which will be chosen personally by the First Minister and for which people cannot be nominated.

The finalists and eventual winner of each category will be decided by dedicated judging panels, each chaired by Lord Rowe-Beddoe. The finalists will be announced in a gala reception on 9 January 2014. The St David Awards ceremony will be held on 13 March 2014 in Cardiff, where the winners will be announced.

Speaking at the Awards launch at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, The First Minister said:

“We may be a small country but our achievements are great. When I announced my intentions to hold these awards earlier this year I wanted to be able to recognise those great achievements, which so often are made by the ordinary people of Wales, people who work tirelessly for others and make a real difference to the quality of life in Wales and expect nothing in return.

“Most of us have been fortunate enough to meet someone like this at some point in our lives and now is our chance to give something back. I would urge people to fill out the form and nominate anyone they feel deserves recognition and give them the opportunity to be put in the spotlight.”

The winner of each category will receive a hand-forged award designed by award-winning Welsh sculptor Gideon Petersen, which was unveiled by the First Minister today.

The design takes inspiration from the Welsh word awen, meaning “poetic inspiration” and will be forged from mild steel with a base made of Welsh slate.

Following the unveiling of the award it was displayed at National Museum Cardiff for two weeks, before embarking on a tour of Wales.

During the launch event, it was also announced that S4C is the media partner for the St David Awards. As well as broadcasting a special programme about the awards in March 2014 in Welsh, with English commentary available, S4C will share the build-up to the ceremony with audiences across Wales and beyond, with regular features throughout the nomination and short listing period.

Ian Jones, Chief Executive of S4C said:

“As the only Welsh-language television channel in the world, S4C’s role at the heart of the nation lets us celebrate the everyday lives, culture and traditions of the whole of Wales.

“Through this broadcast partnership with the Welsh Government, I’m delighted that we will also be able to share some extraordinary achievements with our audience, and to give the nominees the public recognition they deserve.”

Nominations can be made by filling an online form or downloading a template at www.wales.gov.uk/stdavidawards Nominations are open until 5 November 2013.